Warning: Spoilers ahead for Dark Matter episodes 1 -6.
Summary
- Apple TV+ adapted Dark Matter faithfully but added twists like showing Edgerton's character teaching, enhancing the story's depth and complexity.
- Edgerton's role as a co-founder of Velocity Labs in the show differs from the book, shaking up the organization's dynamics and relationships.
- The show expands on relationships and character motivations, adding layers to Jason Dessen's journey through the multiverse.
Apple TV+'s adaptation of Blake Crouch's 2016 sci-fi novel, Dark Matter, is a largely faithful live-action version of the story, but some interesting differences have been made due to the change in medium. With Crouch also serving as the Dark Matter showrunner and lead writer for the show, it would be reasonable to assume that Apple's version of the story would be a beat-for-beat replication of the original. However, Crouch wasn't afraid to add to the TV show, updating the narrative after an 8-year gap between source material and adaptation.
The Dark Matter cast is led by Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen, as he tries to traverse the multiverse and reclaim his life from an identical impostor. The show is an addition to Apple TV+'s robust sci-fi library, cementing the platform's place as a leader within the genre. Dark Matter has an all-star creative team, with writers and directors tied to legendary franchises such as Star Trek and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unlike certain multiversal tales, Dark Matter is wrought with tension and a feeling of hopelessness that makes it unclear if the protagonist will ever find his way home.
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36 Jason Dessen's Teaching Career Gets Far More Attention In The TV Show
Jason's professional life isn't addressed much in the book
The main Jason in the Dark Matter book is a physics professor at the fictitious Lakemont College in Chicago. However, none of the scenes in the source material are set at the school. Instead, the fact that Jason is a professor rather than an award-winning physicist is a point of contention for his character, so he is quietly disdainful of his occupation. In the show, Jason is equally disappointed with his professional lot in life, but you at least see him flex his teaching muscles firsthand.
The main Jason isn't the only version of Edgerton's Dark Matter character who is shown in the classroom. Jason2, the alternate version who forced their universe-swap, steps into all aspects of his victim's life - including his responsibilities at Lakemont. While this is heavily implied and even described in the book, Jason2 is also never directly written about while imparting his knowledge to the next generation in Crouch's original version of the story.
35 Ryan Holder's Job Offer In Apple TV+'s Dark Matter Doesn't Happen In The Book
Ryan's Pavia Prize victory is even bigger in the show
Jason being guilted into attending Ryan Holder's celebration at Village Tap plays out almost exactly as it does in the book, but it isn't identical. In the novel, Jason quickly shares a drink with Ryan before leaving the bar, but that isn't where the interaction ends in the Apple show. In fact, Jimmi Simpson's version of Ryan introduces an entirely new element to the Dark Matter story.
The addition of the job offer doesn't change the story too much, but has perhaps been included to reinforce Ryan's success in comparison to the Ryan in the other universe.
Due to winning the Pavia Prize, Ryan declares intentions to open up a neurotech company in San Francisco with his newfound wealth, offering Jason the chance to work with him in the Californian city. Jason is replaced with his multiversal copy shortly after he leaves Village Tap, so it's actually Jason2 who rejects the offer later on. The addition of the job offer doesn't change the story too much, but has perhaps been included to reinforce Ryan's success in comparison to the Ryan in the other universe.